Behind The Headlines

Alliance faultlines emerge

A reckless trade war collapses, a strategic alliance erodes from within and a century-old order struggles to retain a semblance of meaning and purpose.

Nation

Wolves in sheep’s clothing

GOMBAK: The era of hiding corruption behind ethnic loyalty must end, as billions were siphoned off by those claiming to champion a particular race, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Golf

OWGR sparks fresh storm 

THERE was much to debate this week, but unsurprisingly the Official World Golf Rankings long awaited decision to award points to LIV Golf for the first time dominated discussions across the sport – and for good reason.

Squash

Sivasangari’s sizzling serve powers her to 200th PSA win in Chicago

PETALING JAYA: National squash player S. Sivasangari (pic) served up a splendid game to mark her 200th win on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour.

Nation

Hidden door handles pose a major safety risk

PETALING JAYA: As China moves to phase out "hidden" or retractable car door handles by 2027 over safety concerns, Malaysian transport experts are urging authorities to tighten inspections on new vehicles sold locally, warning that the sleek designs could pose deadly risks during emergencies.

Sabah & Sarawak

10-year-old weightlifter shows grit beyond age

KUCHING: A 10-year-old boy stole the limelight at Dewan Panglima Rentap in Betong when he hoisted the barbells in a weightlifting competition.

Nation

Making e-hailing rides safer

PETALING JAYA: The mandatory installation of dual-facing dashcams in all e-hailing vehicles should be implemented to strengthen passenger safety and accountability, say experts.

Golf

Golfers unite to weigh in on World Wish Day

SOME charity events raise funds. Others quietly unite a community around something far more meaningful.

Swimming

Hoe Yean sees improvement in tiring but fruitful triple-race outing

PETALING JAYA: Swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean (pic) continued his fine form in the Malaysian Invitational Age-Group Championships by adding two more titles.

Nation

Petaling Street comes alive with horse parade

PETALING JAYA: A sea of red lanterns, drumbeats and galloping symbolism transformed Petaling Street into a festive corridor as traders and visitors ushered in an early Year of the Horse while celebrating culture and community spirit.

Nation

Hooked on blind box craze

PETALING JAYA: The thrill of opening a blind box can quickly give way to regret when duplicates pile up for collectors, but the excitement of getting the coveted toy or figurines continues to draw them back.

Focus

Inside the blind box economy: Why we can’t stop unboxing

Once a childhood ritual, blind boxes have become a multi-billion-dollar industry built on anticipation and nostalgia, but will we keep buying into the thrill?

On The Beat

Livestock must go where the land is

Land in Selangor is both scarce and expensive, so having less productive livestock farming there needs a rethink. Instead, farms could be moved to the Bornean states where vast tracts are available.

Badminton

Hock Kin urges BAM to fix programme that has failed to produce next Chong Wei

PETALING JAYA: Could the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) benefit from placing greater trust in local coaches?

Badminton

Kenneth urges women’s team to push beyond limits

PETALING JAYA: The national women shuttlers were dealt a harsh lesson in the Asia Team Championships after bowing out in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Badminton

Mixed outing leaves Roy King-Arif with work to do for Thomas Cup spot

PETALING JAYA: Men's doubles shuttlers Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi still have work to do in their quest to claim a spot in the Thomas Cup Finals after a mixed showing in the Asia Team Championships.

Other Sports

Olympics-Figure-skating-Once a child prodigy, Canada's Gogolev makes memorable Games debut

(In paragraph 5 of Feb 7 story, corrects to ‌show Gogolev was born in Canada, not Russia)

Badminton

Wei Xiang gains priceless experience after brave fight against Ginting

PETALING JAYA: Young shuttler Kong Wei Xiang believes the experience gained playing against Indonesia's Anthony Ginting in the Asia Team Championships will prove invaluable.

Focus

Finding screen-life balance for seniors

As screen use rises among seniors, experts say the real challenge is not whether to use digital tools, but how to use them well.

Football

City Boys refuse to fold as Risto’s charges hold Turtles in Malaysia Cup first leg

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City may be battling off-field woes, but they showed they are far from done after fighting back to hold Terengganu to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Malaysia Cup quarter-final game.